As Lyla Dille prepared for the first day of school, she hung charms, plush animals and bracelets on her backpack. Over the summer, the fourth grader was excited to go back to Travis Heights Elementary. She knew students from Becker Elementary, which closed in May, would come in and was eager to make them feel welcome.
But a week before summer ended, Lyla learned she wouldn’t start the school year at Travis Heights. Austin ISD officials told families on Aug. 12 that flooding and water damage had occurred during building improvements and students would have to start the school year at Dawson Elementary.
Lyla went through many feelings…